Welcome Address by Sule Lamido, Honourable
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
at the Meeting of Committee of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers
on Zimbabwe held in Abuja, 6-7 September 2001

HONOURABLE MINISTER,
EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED
LADIESAND
GENTLEMEN

I am honoured and delighted to welcome you to
this important meeting. Your presence here today, to deliberate
on ways and means of assisting Zimbabwe, in moving forward the
process of land reform and to also rescue the country from its
current socio-economic crisis, is a clear demonstration of your
commitment to a peaceful solution to this lingering problem. I
must let you know that President Olusegun Obasanjo is particularly
pleased that you have been able to honour our invitation to this
meeting, in spite of the short notice and your very tight schedules.
I am confident that the positive spirit with which you have accepted
our invitation would be brought to bear on our deliberations such
that we can come up with a practical way forward at the end of
this meeting.

By proposing the establishment of this Committee,
I would like to stress, once again, that Nigeria was motivated
by the strong desire to help find a peaceful solution to the crisis
in Zimbabwe, conscious of the potential threat it continues to
pose to Africa. Africa cannot afford another war, not least, racial
war, or one with racial undertones. So much scarce resources and
time had been frittered away on the prosecution of conflicts and
wars in Africa, at a time that the rest of the world is advancing
on the promotion of happiness and prosperity for their peoples.
The signals coming from the crisis in Zimbabwe should not, and
cannot be ignored by Africa and friends of Africa all over the
world. This is why we are determined to continue to concert efforts
with like-minded countries, to find an enduring solution to this
problem.

Let me also stress, at this juncture, that the
establishment of this Committee is not intended to undermine the
authority of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG),
or to supplant its function. Our intention is to assist the Commonwealth,
ahead of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
in Brisbane, Australia, so that the current situation in Zimbabwe
does not distract attention from other matters of major concern
and interest to member states of the Commonwealth family.

I would also like to stress that Nigeria's mediation
efforts are predicated on the need to ensure the unity of the
Commonwealth, and to preserve its age-long tradition of informality
and forthrightness in addressing matters of mutual concern to
member states.

As we gather here in Abuja today, it is our
expectation that the serene atmosphere of this virgin city will
provide the appropriate ambiance needed for a frank and open-minded
discussion. Neither must we pre-judge the outcome of our deliberations.
We expect that our dialogue will be characterised by mutual respect
as well as the spirit of consensus and compromise, in the true
tradition of the Commonwealth, based on our shared concern that
a peaceful and speedy solution must be found to this problem.

The need for an early resolution of the land
question in Zimbabwe has even become more urgent and imperative.
So much time has elapsed, since the problem degenerated into a
crisis with attendant violence, and so many lives and property
have already been lost as we continue to grapple with this matter
without any feasible solution in sight. As we speak, the situation
on the ground is deteriorating by the day as forcible land seizures
had continued. The feeling of insecurity on the part of White
Zimbabweans is palpable, with some said to be contemplating the
option of emigration. The current situation, if not addressed
in a forthright and definitive manner, can only do incalculable
damage to our quest for a peaceful and stable Africa, in which
peoples of all races and ethnic pluralism can co-exist in harmony.

The land issue has, unwittingly, thrown up other
challenges in Zimbabwe. There are clearly some problems of law
and order as forcible land seizures and reprisal actions had tended
to portray some excesses on the part of veterans and White commercial
farmers alike. Only a few in Zimbabwe will deny that the current
situation has not affected investor confidence and tourism in
the country. Questions have, thus, been raised about the need
to take appropriate and firmer measures to protect the lives and
property of all Zimbabweans, irrespective of colour or class.
Government must not allow the impression to be created that it,
directly or indirectly, acquiesces in forcible land take-overs,
or is incapable of enforcing its own laws, thereby fostering the
image of lawlessness and lack of respect for the rule of law in
the country.

Nigeria is deeply concerned at the threat the
situation poses to regional peace and security in Southern Africa.
We are equally concerned that what started out as a purely bilateral
issue and disagreement between two members of the Commonwealth
family is being gradually internationalised. As a result of the
impasse, the United States Senate has already adopted a Bill on
Zimbabwe whose intent and purposes seeks the imposition of sanctions
on the country. The European Union has also gone far in its bid
to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe. At the last OAU Summit in Lusaka,
Zambia the Foreign Ministers of Africa also passed a solidarity
resolution on Zimbabwe. In the face of these, the severe economic
difficulties facing the people of Zimbabwe persist, including
their negative and destabilising consequences on the sub-region.

There are, therefore, ominous signs that must
impel us, at this meeting, to arrive at some solution to this
potential conflagration, as we can no longer afford to dither
and bicker over these matters. We must seek ways and means of
assisting Zimbabwe to get out of the present difficulties in order
that the country can return to the path of glory and rapid economic
development, which independence promised the ordinary people of
Zimbabwe.

Nigeria is of the opinion that a workable solution
can best be found, if we all work together on the basis of mutual
respect and as members of the Commonwealth family. As Nigeria's
modest contribution to this collective endeavour, we have proposed
a two-track approach towards a durable solution to this lingering
land issue. The first element of this strategy is the establishment
of this Committee, whose objective is to facilitate dialogue on
the way forward. The second element is the adoption of a gradualist
approach to land acquisition and compensation in a just, equitable
and fair manner.

At the onset, we were faced with a situation
in which the White farmers offered to provide a Compensation Fund
for 1 million hectares of land, out of the 3.5 million hectares
already acquired by the Government. It was proposed that the balance
of 2.5 million hectares should be covered by contributions from
donor countries and agencies. In exchange, the proposal was for
the Zimbabwean Government to put on hold the acquisition of the
remaining 1.5 million hectares, which had been earmarked for acquisition
under the Land Acquisition Act.

In light of the recent decision of the Zimbabwean
Government to increase the total landmass for acquisition under
Phase II, to 9.5 million hectares, it will be necessary to modify
our proposal to take into account the new situation. Nigeria is
convinced that had these proposals been given serious consideration
in June this year when it was first made, the current disturbing
escalation of violence and forcible seizures of land would have,
probably, been avoided. What is important, at this point, is for
us to come to an agreement on the basic principle of our proposal.
Therefore, one of the specific tasks of this meeting will be to
work out the precise details of this proposal, in close consultation
with all the parties and other stakeholders. This meeting should
also deliberate on the mechanism for monitoring the implementation
of the decisions that may emerge at the end of this gathering
regarding the land reform and other related matters in Zimbabwe.

May I end this address by once again welcoming
you to Abuja. The Government and people of Nigeria are grateful
to you for the confidence you have reposed in this forum. It is
our expectation that this meeting would lay a solid basis for
dialogue and the ultimate resolution of this problem ahead of
the next CHOGM.

I would, therefore, like to appeal to all delegates
to this meeting, to seize this historic opportunity to find an
enduring solution to this problem. I urge all parties to liberate
their minds from the tyranny of history, and move forward into
a brighter future for the people of Zimbabwe, based on a shared
vision of racial harmony and prosperity.

I urge this meeting to demonstrate the necessary
political wisdom and determination as well as a deep commitment
to peace in Zimbabwe by working for a compromise solution that
is feasible, fair and just to all Zimbabweans.